Does the Mercedes-Benz S-Class fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class records 6.66 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 17.26 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−10.60, 95% interval −10.82 to −10.39). It ranks 616 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Mercedes-Benz S-Class by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 1,257 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 1,257 | 0.84 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 1,016 | 0.68 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,013 | 0.68 |
| Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective | 868 | 0.58 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 848 | 0.57 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 148,892 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mercedes-Benz S-Class gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
21.1% of Mercedes-Benz S-Class MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 2,580 miles later (781 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 781 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz S-Class 1999 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2000 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2001 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2002 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2003 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2004 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2005 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2006 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2007 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2008 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2009 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2010 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2011 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2012 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2013 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2014 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2015 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2016 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2017 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2018 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2019 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2020 · Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Norway · Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Finland · Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the Netherlands · Mercedes-Benz S-Class by postcode area · Mercedes-Benz S-Class body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class brakes failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicle identification failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class road wheels failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class steering failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz S-Class visibility failures